Today, Explained Who polices the police?
Aug 20, 2020
Eric Umansky, a ProPublica reporter specializing in NYPD accountability, dives into the challenges facing the Civilian Complaint Review Board. He discusses the historical roots of the CCRB, shaped by community activism, and details the ongoing struggle for police accountability amidst significant systemic hurdles. Umansky highlights troubling instances of police misconduct, like a family's Halloween ordeal, and examines the impact of the repeal of statute 50A, which allows public access to officer misconduct records, shedding light on the need for reform.
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Unmarked Police Car Incident
- Eric Umansky's wife and daughter witnessed a police car hit a teenager on Halloween.
- The police then arrested a group of seemingly unrelated Black kids.
NYPD Denial and Witness Accounts
- Umansky called the NYPD for clarification, but they denied the incident.
- He found multiple witnesses corroborating his wife's account, but the NYPD still dismissed it.
CCRB's Limited Power
- The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) investigates police misconduct.
- However, the police commissioner can overrule their findings.